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2h ago

U.S. Boards Sanctioned Tanker Veronica III in Indian Ocean After Caribbean Pursuit

The Pentagon has not said whether the OFAC-listed vessel was formally seized following the long-range boarding.

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The U.S. military boarded an oil tanker in the Indian Ocean. (Credit: Department of Defense)

Overview

  • U.S. forces conducted a right-of-visit, maritime interdiction and boarding of the Panama-flagged Veronica III after tracking it from the Caribbean, according to an official post and video.
  • Defense officials said the tanker attempted to defy President Trump’s quarantine on sanctioned vessels, adding that international waters would not provide sanctuary.
  • Treasury records show the Veronica III is under U.S. sanctions related to Iran, and Panama’s maritime authority says the ship’s registration was canceled in December 2024.
  • TankerTrackers.com reported the vessel departed Venezuela on January 3 carrying nearly 2 million barrels of crude and fuel oil and has been involved with Russian, Iranian and Venezuelan oil movements since 2023.
  • The operation follows a recent interdiction of the Aquila II in the Indian Ocean as part of a broader campaign targeting a Venezuela-linked shadow fleet accused of sanctions evasion.